Time stamp



1957 M. JUHAS 2,778,304

TIME STAMP Filed Aug. 30, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MICHAEL JUHAS ATTORNEY M. JUHAS TIME STAMP Jan. 22, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1952 INVENTOR MICHAEL JUHAS BY MJZM ATTORNEY M. JUHAS TIME STAMP Jan. 22, 1957 Filed Aug. 30, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 q mFhH n -mFLr INVENTOR MICHAEL JUHAS BY M M ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1957 M. JUHAS 2,778,304

TIME STAMP Filed Aug. 30, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MICHAEL JUHAS BY [flaw ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1957 JUHAS 2,778,304

TIME STAMP Filed Aug. 30, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY I/IIIIIlI/IIIIII/llil I In 5 IL f If v MICHAEL JUHAS ""7 BY MIA Jan. 22, 1957 M. JUHAS 2,778,304

TIME STAMP Filed Aug. 30, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR MICHAEL JUHAS BY Mye /6 w ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1957 M. JUHAS 2,778,304

TIME STAMP Filed Aug. 30, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR MICHAEL JUHAS MJTM ATTORNEY United.

TllVlE STAlldP Application August 30, 1952, Serial No. 307,275

4 Claims. (Cl. 101-293) This invention relates to improvements in time recording devices and more particularly to improvements in time stamps.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a time stamp that will be very simple to adjust for stamping either thin or bulky articles.

Another object is to provide a time stamp having a new and improved means for holding the printing mechanism in its casing so that it can be easily removed from said casing for inspection.

Still another object is to provide a time stamp capable of certain adjustments but where the adjusting means is concealed so that the time stamp casing may present a smooth, unbroken surface and wherein it is not necessary to remove bolts, screws or any other fastening to make said adjustments. Furthermore, said adjustments are made without the use of any tool.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the specification and the accompanying rawings which show one embodiment of this invention and wherein similar reference numerals indicate similar parts and wherein, in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my improved time stamp with portions cut away to show the internal construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View partially in cross-section showing the stamp in printing position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partially in cross-section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational View partially in cross-section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bottom of the time stamp with a portion of the bottom plate broken away;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the time stamp head in an elevated position. The electrical coil and certain other parts are not shown in this view;

Fig. 9 is a detailed view of some of the hinge parts shown in the same position as that in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the time stamp with the printing head dropped from its casing for inspection or manual setting;

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of some of the hinge parts with the printing head in the position shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of one hinge post;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of the hinge post shown in Fig. 12 with one of the hinge parts shown in normal operating position;

Fig. 14 is a detailed elevational view of one of the hinge members;

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1515 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the hinge bracket that connects the head casing with the base; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the hinge bracket that connects the printing head assembly with the base.

atent O ice The embodiment of the invention to be described comprises a time stamp of a class commonly known as a manually operated printing head time stamp. It includes a printing head assembly similar to that shown and described in United States Letters Patent 1,143,363 issued June 15, 1915, to Charles M. Crook. Reference may be made to this patent for a more detailed description of the printing head assembly.

The present embodiment includes a time stamp having a base and a stamping head hinged thereon. In normal usage this head is supported at an angle with the base so that articles about one inch or less in thickness may be stamped. If the operator desires to stamp a thicker article he may raise the head by merely pressing down on said head near the hinge. The head will then lift to an angle approximately 45 degrees with the base and articles up to about five inches in thickness may be stamped. When the operator wishes to examine the stamping mechanism he needs merely to push on the front of the head casing. The head will then slide on its hinge and the stamping mechanism will drop below the head case. Both of these operations of increasing the angle between the head and the base and dropping the mechanism from the head are performed by simply pressing on the head case. It is not necessary to remove any bolt or other fastening member.

With particular reference to Figs. 2 and 12, the time stamp comprises a base 21 in which is mounted a platen 22. On this platen will be placed the article to be stamped. The opposite end of the base 21 is provided with a pair of upstanding hinge posts 23 and 24. Each hinge post has an elongated opening 25 which encloses hinge pin bearings 25. The bearings 25 are normally pressed against the top of openings 25 by compression springs 27 mounted in vertical apertures 28 and held in place by studs 29.

A hinge pin St is rotatably mounted in bearings 26. Upon hinge pin 30 are rotatably mounted four members that support the movable printing head. These will be described in detail later.

The movable head that cooperates with the base 21 comprises two principal parts, namely a printing head assembly 31 and a head case 32.

The printing head assembly is mounted on a support plate or arm 33 which has formed on its lower end two arms 34 and 35 having openings 36 through which is passed hinge pin 3% (see Figs. 10 and 17). The details of the printing head assembly are described in the Crook Patent 1,143,363 and, therefore, will not be fully described here, but they include a magnet 37, type wheels 38, a ribbon 39 and ribbon reels 4% and 41. The type wheels and the ribbon reels are supported in side plates 42. Secured by riveting to each side plate 42 is -a lug 43 (see Fig. 15) having a portion bent inwardly at right angles to said side plate. These lugs 43 cooperate with the head case to detachably secure the head case to the printing head assembly.

A pair of brackets 44 and as (see Fig. 14) are riveted on each side of the support plate 33. One arm of each bracket extends at right angles to the support plate 33. This arm contains an opening 46 so that the bracket may revolve on hinge pin 39 which is passed through said openings. A detent 47 formed in each bracket 14, above the opening 45 cooperates with a stop member 48 screwed to each of the hinge posts 25, 24.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 13, the stop'members 48 are sector shaped and have two surfaces 49 and 50 that may be engaged by the detent 47. Thus in Fig. 13 the detent is shown bearing against the front surface 49 of said stop member. The front surface 4% is in the path of rotation of the detent 47 when the hinge pin 30 is held in its normal upper position by springs 28. This position shown 3 in Fig. 13 is the normal position wherein the type wheels 38 are suspended about one inch above the platen 22.

In Fig. 9 the detent 47 is shown bearing against a stop surface '50 cut in the lower portion of stop member 48. In Fig. 9 the hinge pin has been pressed down against the pressure of spring 28 until the detent 47 has cleared surface 50 allowing the bracket 44 and the printing head assembly to rotate counter-clockwise. The printing head is now in the position shown in Fig. 8 ready to print a thick object. When the head is in this position the upper surface 51 of bracket 44 is riding on a lower surface 52 of stop member '48 holding the hinge pin 30 down in the opening 25. When the printing head is rotated in a clockwise direction far enough for detent 47 to clear the sur face 49 of the stop member the hinge pin will resume its normal position and the detent 47 by engaging surface 49 will prevent the printing head from rotating above its normal position.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8, the head case 32 which normally surrounds the printing head assembly 31 is preferably made of cast metal. It is U-shaped in crosssection with an open bottom except for a small portion covered by a plate secured to the head case by screws 61 threaded into case pillars 62.

An opening 63 in the top of the head case is covered by a cover plate 64 held in place by studs 65.

A U-shaped hinge bracket 66 is secured to one end of the head case 31 by studs 67. The hinge bracket has two vertical arms containing elongated openings which surround the hinge pin 30. These elongated openings allow the hinge bracket and the head case connected thereto to either rotate or slide on the hinge pin.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the end of the head case nearest the hinge pin extends downward into the base 21 and is provided with a hole 69. One end of a tension coil spring is looped through the hole 69 while the other end of said spring is secured to the base 21 by a screw 71. Spring 70 constantly pulls on the lower end of the head case tending to rotate the head case around the hinge pin in a counterclockwise direction. The tension of spring 70 also tends to keep the left hand end of the elongated slots 68 (as shown in Fig. 8) against the hinge pin 36. By pressure on the end of the case against the spring tension the case head can be moved to the position shown in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein the right hand end of the slot 68 is against the hinge pin 30.

Means are provided for locking the head case 32 to the printing head. These include latch members 72 cooperating with the printing head lugs 43. The latch members 72 comprise an arm 74 secured to the head case by studs 7 3 and a shorter arm 75 extending downward at an angle of about degrees with arm 74.

When the time stamp is in the normal assembled position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 15, the latch members 72 are r;

under the lugs 43 looking the head case to the printing head. The tension of spring 70 keeps the latch members in. the right hand position as depicted in Fig. 2. When the stamp head is raised to the open position, shown in Fig. 8, the head case and the stamping head still remain locked together. However, when the stamping head is in the position shown in Fig. 8, if pressure is exerted on the front of the head case then the head case will move to the left (as shown in Fig. 10) while the printing head is stationary until the ends of latch members 72 clear lugs 43 allowing the printing head to drop from the head case to the position shown in Fig. 10 with the support plate 33 resting on the plate 60. The elongated openings 68 in hinge bracket 66 allow the head case to slide in relation to the printing head.

When the stamping head is in the normal operating p0- sition, suspended about one inch above the platen, the printing head cannot be released from the head case because there is insufiicient clearance between the end 76 of the head case and the inside surface 77 of the base 21 d. to allow the latch members 72 to clear lugs 43. It is, therefore, impossible to accidentally release the head when the stamp is in normal operating position.

In order to replace the head case over the stamping head the operator merely presses down on the top of the head case 32. The arms '75 of latch member 72 strike behind the lugs 43 sliding the head case to the left against the tension of spring 70 until the arms 78 of the latch member slide under the lugs 43.

When the stamping head 31 is in the position shown in Fig. 10, the setting shafts for the type wheels, the ribbon reels, and all other parts that need be adjusted for ordinary servicing by the consumer are readily accessible to the operator.

The base 21 of the time stamp contains a timing unit 1% which includes a synchronous motor 101, a switch 102 operated by said motor, and a rectifier 103. This timing unit when connected to a 60 cycle source of current, will supply a direct current impulse to the magnet 37 once a minute. This timing unit and the circuit connections therefor, are old and well known and form no part of the present invention, so they will not be further described.

Thus it will be seen that the present invention presents a time stamp that has a smooth, streamlined case, which stamp may be opened for bulky articles or serviced in a very simple manner without the removal of any bolt or other fastening member.

To operate the stamp in the normal manner, the article to be stamped is placed on the platen and the head case pushed downward with the hand. When the hand is lifted, the head case is pulled to its normal upward position about an inch above the platen by the spring 70. If a bulky article is to be stamped, the operator pushes down on the top of the stamp above the hinge (see the left side hand in Fig. 1), allowing the detent 47 to clear the stop surface 49, wherein the stamping head will rise to the position shown in Fig. 8. To return the stamping head to normal position, the operator merely pushes down on the head as for a stamping operation.

If the operator wishes to set the type wheels or otherwise service the stamp, he first raises the head to the higher position shown in Fig. 8. He then pushes to the left on the case head as shown by the right side hand in Fig. 1. This releases the latch member 72 from the lug 43 so that the stamping head assembly is released from the head case as shown in Fig. 10 and the stamping head is now accessible.

The invention has been described as applied to a single modification but it will be understood that various omissions and changes in details of the device illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention should be limited, therefore, only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a time stamp, the combination with a base of a hollow casing open along a portion of one of its sides, stamping mechanism, an arm carrying said stamping mechanism, a member about which both the casing and the arm are adapted to rotate and on which the casing is also adapted to slide, and cooperating latching members on the arm and casing normally fastening the arm and casing together and adapted to be released from each other by sliding movement of said casing.

2. In a time stamp the combination of a base having a hinge pin, an arm carrying a printing mechanism rotatably mounted on said hinge pin; a casing for said arm rotatably and slidably mounted on said hinge pin; a first latch member associated with said arm; a second latch member associated with said casing and adapted to cooperate with said first latch member for normally securing said arm and said casing together; and a spring tending to rotate said casing on its pivot and also bias it against sliding motion on said pivot, said latch members being adapted to be released from each other by sliding motion of said casing against said spring bias.

3. In a stamping device, a base, a pivot pin mounted on said base and capable of limited movement relative thereto, an arm rotatably mounted on said pivot pin and carrying a stamping mechanism, a casing for said arm and stamping mechanism rotatably and slidably mounted on said pivot pin, means for normally locking said casing to said arm releasable by sliding movement of said casing on said pivot pin, and means for normally holding said casing and arm in a substantially horizontal position releasable by movement of said pivot pin relative to said base.

4. In a stamping device, a base having a pair of hinge posts having elongated openings therein, a hinge pin slidably mounted in said openings, means to normally bias said hinge pin toward one end of said openings, a stamping mechanism rotatably mounted on said hinge pin, a housing for said stamping mechanism rotatably and slidably mounted on said hinge pin, means for normally holding said stamping mechanism and housing in a substantially horizontal position, said means releasable by downward pressure on said housing to move said hinge pin to the other end of said openings against said biasing means, and means for normally holding said stamping mechanism Within said housing, said means releasable by sliding movement of said housing on said hinge pin to permit said housing to rotate on said hinge pin independently of said stamping mechanism to expose the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 148,315 Lull Mar. 10, 1874 534,469 Demarest Feb. 19, 1895 1,143,363 Crook June 15, 1915 2,227,314 Maynard Dec. 31, 1940 2,653,036 Creel et al Sept. 22, 1953 2,691,778 Lester Oct. 19, 1954 

